ROMANCE IN STYLE
US/Canada, 2022, 84 minutes, Colour.
Jaicy Elliott, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Connie Manfredi, Jorja Cadence, Dalyin Willis, Laura Soltis, Jason Salamandyk.
Directed by Michael Robison.
Fans of Hallmark movies find this one quite engaging. And, it lives up to its title, a definite romance but a focus on style, especially the world of fashion style.
Central character, played by Jaicy Elliott, is Ella (there are quite a number of references to Cinderella and the central character saying she is fond of the story but sometimes wonders whether she is the Ugly Sister). Ella is from Pittsburgh, a designer, working in sewing but with huge ambitions in New York, supported by her friend Katie who works at the fashion magazine The Look, admired by friends in the garment district, and introduced to a key fashion executive who appreciates Ella’s work.
On the way to work one morning, she encounters Derek (Benjamin Hollingsworth) on the phone, holding up the line for getting their morning coffee. Ella is very direct in what she says, complaining, then she is walking with him along the street, entering the same building, entering the same floor, and discovering that he is the son of the executive for a range of companies including The Look and that Derek is there to produce the online version of the magazine and to promote finance.
One of the points being made by the film is that fashion magazines cater to an imaginary female look, that of models, their fashion measurements… But Ella, like most women, is not the fashion magazine image. And she wants to change that, with her attitudes, with the outreach of the magazines, with her own designs.
While there is something of a battle of the sexes, Derek becomes ever more sympathetic, that he has set up an athletic club for deprived youngsters, coaches them, clashes with his father but is reconciled, very much dislikes the arrogant editor of the magazine and her subservient assistant, decides to have Ella as his instructor in the details of the world of fashion – which she does, both falling more and more in love!
There is a crisis at the end, not quite credible in so far as Ella would believe the harsh insinuations of the editor’s assistant about Derek and does something of a tantrum. But, he is sincere, has worked on all kinds of means, including an article by Ella’s best friend for the magazine about her, and an opportunity to display her work.
A pleasing Hallmark experience.
